Our Shared Canopy: The SCIP Youth Rainforest

A co-production project with SCIP Youth, Lauren Hayes and Daler-Rowney

09/01/2026

At SCIP, we believe that access to creativity and culture it vital, especially for young people who learn about the world through culture and develop social skills while being creative supports wellbeing and mental health. Our SCIP Youth programme provides a safe space for a diverse group of young people aged 11 – 18 including those with different learning needs.

It has always been important o us that the young people lead the SCIP Youth programme, and in 2024 we started talking to them about working on a large scale co -production project. After discussing ideas they whole cohort voted to create a paper installation inspired by rainforests and we gave them full use of our studio to transform it.

This kind of collaborative public art project is incredibly important for young people, offering them a unique platform for self-expression, skill development, and a powerful sense of ownership in their community. Access to the arts allows young people to develop crucial life skills like creativity, problem-solving, and resilience, which are vital for their personal growth and future. Being part of a visible public art project like this also empowers young people, boosting their confidence and showing them the tangible impact their creativity can have on the wider world.

14 dedicated members of our youth group teamed up with talented paper artist Lauren Hayes and the SCIP Team. Together, they researched, designed and created an incredible paper rainforest assembled in the SCIP Studio and open to the public as part of a three week exhibition celebrating flora and fauna.

Throughout the project, these young people learned a wide array of new skills working with paper and understanding what a truly unique and versatile material perfect for visually stunning artwork. They had a unique opportunity to work directly with a professional artist, learning from Laurens extensive paper art skills and knowledge. They drew inspiration from the thousands of species thriving in rainforests worldwide, and with a bit of creative license, they achieved a truly inspiring and beautiful creation.

A huge thank you also goes to our wonderful volunteers who supported this project, from preparing materials behind the scenes to assisting during sessions.

This amazing project wouldn’t have been possible without the incredibly generous support of Daler-Rowney, who donated all the fantastic Canford papers we used. Daler-Rowney manufactures their papers right here in the UK, which helped reduce the carbon footprint of this project. Plus, Canford papers are FSC certified, meaning they’re made with materials from well-managed forests or recycled sources.

This SCIP Youth project is funded and supported by; Daler-Rowney | Rampion Offshore Windfarm | Human Nature Grants